Parasitology Test

Comprehensive Parasitology Profile | Genova Diagnostics
Comprehensive test evaluates stool for the presence of parasites, using microscopic examination. This is an ideal test for patients with sudden changes in bowel pattern, especially for those who have been traveling abroad or camping.

Definition
The stool O & P test is the stool ova and parasites test. In this test, a stool sample is examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and their eggs, which are called ova.
 

Susceptibility to Parasite Infection:

It is generally assumed that travel to a Third World country or the occasional camping trip are prerequisites for acquiring a parasite infection. Owing to a combination of extensive worldwide travel, increasing immigration to the United States, day care centers and other sources of easy transmission, anyone is now susceptible. Diarrheal diseases, in fact, (bacterial as well as parasitic) constitute the greatest worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality.

Pathogenicity:

Various organisms are increasingly recognized for their potential pathogenicity. For example:

• Giardia lamblia is the leading cause of intestinal parasitic infection in the United States. Only a few decades ago it was not considered pathogenic.

• Cryptosporidium, a well-known pathogen in animals, was only recently identified as a human pathogen.

• Blastocytis hominis is the most frequently observed fecal parasite. Its level of pathogenicity continues to be controversial.

Pathogenicity, in general, appears to vary depending on the parasite itself, host susceptibility, and the microbiological environment in which the parasite lives.

Symptoms of Infection: The most common symptoms of parasite infection are diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Other symptoms may include flatulence, anorexia, weight loss, fevers, chills, blood or mucus in the stool, and fatigue.

Systemic Complaints:

We generally think of parasite infection as causing acute gastrointestinal symptoms. An increasing number of parasite cases feature systemic complaints not traditionally associated with parasites, such as:

• Urticaria • Reactive arthritis • Chronic fatigue, asthma and constipation in individuals who are immunocompromised or

whose intestinal flora is chronically imbalanced.

Diagnosing Parasitic Infections:

The diagnosis of parasitic infections depends on the laboratory, with detection rates dramatically increasing with more sophisticated procedures. Genova Diagnostics’ Comprehensive Parasitology Profile uses the most technologically advanced procedures to accurately identify a wide range of protozoal parasites, including amoebae, flagellates, ciliates, coccidia and microsporidia.

Specimens are carefully analyzed by highly-trained technicians using computer-enhanced microscopy, new staining procedures, and advanced immunoassay techniques. These accurate detection methods allow for increased detection rates, intensifying the awareness of the important relationship between parasitic infection and a broad spectrum of illnesses.